SAVED BY HRH’S NHS
How Charles’s visionary project to prop up Scotland’s overstretched NHS has brought hope to patients
WALKING briskly through the extensive grounds of Dumfries House, determinedly clocking up his daily quota of steps, grandfather Tom Nolan suddenly saw a familiar figure approaching on the path up ahead.
‘Hello, Sir!’, he said cheerfully, as Prince Charles, accompanied by his security guard, grew closer.
Seconds later, a surprised Mr Nolan, who had stepped aside to let His Royal Highness pass by on his way, instead found himself deep in conversation with an inquisitive heir to the throne.
The retired engineer was attempting to lose a significant amount of weight to combat diabetes and was attending a course at the estate’s new state-ofthe-art Health and Wellbeing Centre.
He recalled: ‘It’s not unusual when I’m walking about the grounds as part of my exercise regime to come across Prince Charles. The first time was a bit of a surprise, I’ll admit.
‘He was suddenly strolling towards me and I was delighted when he stopped to ask me how I was doing and seemed interested to hear about why I had been referred there for treatment. His security guard stood apart while we chatted and, after a few minutes, we both went on our way.
‘I’ve met him two or three times since then and he’s always interested in my health and how I’m doing. He’s very approachable and I’ve found him very compassionate and down-to-earth.
‘What he’s created at Dumfries House is something to be admired and will benefit thousands like me. He’s definitely changed my life for the better.’
In the past year since being referred to the treatment centre in the grounds of Dumfries House, near Cumnock, Ayrshire, by an NHS diabetic clinic, Mr Nolan – who is 70 on Tuesday – has lost seven stones, with more to go.
He said: ‘I have to confess I was never much of a royalist before I started going to Dumfries House.
‘I’ve come full circle and now think he will make a great king when his time comes.’
It is an increasingly common view in the local community as the impact of the prince’s vision finally begins to shine through.
Coupled with his friendly approach to everyone he meets on the 18th Century estate he saved for the nation a decade ago, it is not difficult to see why he has quickly endeared himself in the area. His holistic centre is at the site of the former gate lodge and has four treatment rooms, two activity rooms, a meditation room with underfloor heating and plush furnishings.
After retiring in 2015, Mr Nolan, from Cumnock, found himself piling on the pounds and eventually reached 21-and-a-half stones.
In early 2018, he was told he had developed type 2 diabetes and was referred to a diabetic clinic for monitoring. It was his consultant, after hearing about the treatment centre at Dumfries House, who persuaded him to go on the ten-week Health and Wellbeing programme.
Every Thursday for three hours, he was put through his paces, encouraged to go for walks through the estate, as well as being taught mindfulness and instructed in techniques to help combat overeating.
Sessions included learning to cook from scratch healthy versions of takeaway favourites such as fish and chips and curries.
There were also table tennis, Tai Chi and badminton classes, interspersed with periods of acupuncture, Reiki, and relaxation.
Mr Nolan dropped to 14 stone and still plans to lose more by continuing to put into practice the methods he has learned.
He said: ‘I can’t believe the difference in my life now. A lot of people tried to dismiss what Prince Charles was doing in the beginning but I think he’s proved them all wrong.
‘You have to keep your mind open even if you are cynical about whether it can work or not.
‘For me, even just walking around the grounds and seeing the changing seasons is good for my state of mind.
‘I was going downhill fast and it was only a matter of time before I was on insulin. My consultant warned me I was heading that way if I didn’t do something quickly.
‘Now, as well as losing all that weight, I’m on half the pills I was on, my blood sugar has stabilised and my diabetic nurse says she wishes other people were doing the same as me.
‘There’s no doubt Prince Charles is going to save lives.’
Another person to have benefited from the treatment programmes and environment at the centre is Katie Lyle, 47.
She was referred there for help with chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia, as well as symptoms
thought to be related
‘I can’t believe the difference in my life’
to the menopause. Following sessions in Tai Chi, yoga, cookery, Reiki, and mindfulness, she has learned to manage anxiety and stress and adopted a healthier diet.
The mother of one, who lives in Catrine, a few miles from the estate, met Prince Charles during a yoga class. She said: ‘I laugh, looking back. I was on my knees on the yoga mat when he walked into the class and he started chatting to me.
‘Other people looked a bit selfconscious but he doesn’t have the airs and graces people might expect of someone with his background.
‘He puts everyone at ease and seems genuinely interested in what is going on around him. He asked how I was feeling and how long I’d been coming to Dumfries House.’
The former administration worker, who left her job because of her health issues and has since had two hip replacements, added: ‘Prince Charles has transformed the lives of the people in our community. Before I was referred there, I was feeling socially isolated. I’d lost my job through ill health and the pain made me reluctant to go out, so I started losing contact with many of my friends.
‘My self-confidence took a huge knock and it was hard to live with the thought that this was my life from now on.
‘The courses have changed my outlook and helped me to cope with my life and living with chronic pain.
‘The fact that it’s all free, even entry to the grounds of Dumfries House, is absolutely amazing. We can never thank him enough.’
Couples struggling with infertility, often forced to pay thousands for private treatments, are offered a free, 12-week ‘holistic’ fertility course along with reproductive acupuncture and reproductive reflexology, yoga, Thai massage and dance classes.
In the past year, the programme also proved successful – with two pregnancies already. Cognitive behavioural therapy sessions were recently introduced and many elderly people from the local community now enjoy the social benefits offered by a fortnightly knitting workshop run at the centre.
The facility is also widely used by charities including Bristol-based Penny Brohn UK, Ayrshire Cancer Support and Macmillan Cancer Support, with its Move More Scotland programme, who run therapy and activity sessions.
There are plans to expand the range of services this year to run six eight-week courses in mindfulness therapy, while a Fertility Conference, which will be attended by delegates from across the UK, is set to take place there in the coming months.
The revenue generated from letting the facility for use in training days and for yoga retreats allows The Prince’s Foundation, which has its headquarters on the Dumfries House estate, to continue to provide many people with workshops and sessions free of charge.
Yesterday, Shiona Johnston, a registered nurse who jointly heads the Integrated Health and Wellbeing programme on the 2,000-acre estate, said: ‘We’re embedded now in the community.
‘We don’t duplicate with the NHS, but complement conventional treatments by providing an alternative that is proving successful.
‘We see a huge difference in the people we treat and this year we are envisaging a strengthening in our partnership with the NHS.’
The Prince has spoken of his pride at finally realising a 35-year ambition to offer ‘social prescribing’ to the public to help combat health issues including obesity, infertility and depression.
A Clarence House spokesman said: ‘The Prince is a keen advocate of integrated healthcare.
‘This means taking a wider, preventative approach to healthcare by addressing the underlying social, lifestyle and environmental causes of disease.
‘Patients, protected by a sound regulatory environment and the support of the NHS, have access not just to conventional medical treatment but to complementary care and therapy.’
‘Charles doesn’t have any airs and graces’